Hi so my canary made eggs and she doesn’t sit on them and I made a place where she can lay them but nothing she made today her second egg and it broke she lays all of them in a different place. And Yesterday I saw she made an egg and only then I made a nest what do I have to do please help me
Hi Alma,
You didn’t mention if she has a mate? If she doesn’t, then there is no reason for her to sit on the eggs and she definitely should not be given a nest. If you do have a male, then you need to set them up properly for breeding, if this is what you want to do. Canaries are very particular about their nest – if you make one, it has to be the right style, as well as being strong and stable. It is much better to buy the appropriate nest for a canary. This will be an open style nest, either from woven natural materials or plastic. They probably prefer the natural nests, but the plastic nest is easier to clean in between clutches and will not need to be replaced as often as the natural nest. A nest liner is a good thing to add – you can buy these, also. And they need nesting material – again you can buy this, and it usually comes in a box with a small hole so the canaries can pull the nesting material out of it. Do not provide any materials with fine threads or fibers, because these can get embedded in the toes, foot or leg and cause serious injury. The nest should be attached high in the cage, near a corner. The hen should be able to stand up in the nest, so don’t hang it too high – generally about 4 inches from the top of the cage. It needs to be level and stable, so the eggs or chicks can’t roll or fall out.
Your canaries need to be eating a nutritionally balanced diet like pellets or granules. Loose seed is not an adequate diet and should only be offered in small amounts. You can also offer dark leafy greens and chopped veggies. You need to give them an egg food when they are breeding, and until any chicks are weaned. You do not feed the egg food year round or allow the birds to nest year round. The nest needs to be removed in between clutches and the pair rested for several months. You can buy a commercial egg food or make your own or offer both. You can cook an egg, with the shell washed, crushed and cooked with the egg.
Finally the pair needs plenty of privacy when breeding. They should be in a quiet area away from people until the chicks are weaned. Then you can remove the nest and move the cage to a family room or where it was before breeding. All chicks should be placed in new homes as soon as they are weaned. They can’t stay with the parents because they parents may try to breed with them. You should never allow related birds to breed, so keep the chicks separated by sex if you keep any of them.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
